Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08FREETOWN237
2008-05-19 17:04:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Freetown
Cable title:  

SLPP RADIO SILENCED FOR THE MOMENT

Tags:  PGOV PREL PHUM PINR SL 
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VZCZCXRO7868
RR RUEHPA
DE RUEHFN #0237 1401704
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 191704Z MAY 08
FM AMEMBASSY FREETOWN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1922
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L FREETOWN 000237 

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR AF/W

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/19/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM PINR SL
SUBJECT: SLPP RADIO SILENCED FOR THE MOMENT

Classified By: Ambassador June Carter Perry for reasons 1.4(b) and (d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L FREETOWN 000237

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR AF/W

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/19/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM PINR SL
SUBJECT: SLPP RADIO SILENCED FOR THE MOMENT

Classified By: Ambassador June Carter Perry for reasons 1.4(b) and (d)


1. (U) On May 8, Sierra Leone People's Party (SLPP) officials
were informed that one of their primary media outlets, Unity
Radio, had been silenced on the orders of the Minister of
Information and Communication. Reasons cited for removing the
radio's antenna, which effectively cut their nation-wide
signal, included allegations that the antenna was erected
illegally and that the strength of its signal was interfering
with emission from other stations. The SLPP contests the
government's claims, and documentation provided by both sides
does little to clarify the situation.


2. (U) Despite this lack of clarity, all parties are waging a
war of words in the press. Several meetings between
high-ranking government officials and SLPP executives were
delayed in the days following the shut-down, but the Vice
President chaired an in camera meeting on May 15. The meeting
resulted in the creation of a committee to look into the
situation, which will be chaired by the Independent Media
Commission, but an immediate resolution to get Unity back on
the air remains was not found.


3. (C) COMMENT: Radio is the most significant media outlet in
Sierra Leone, and one of great importance to all political
parties in the run-up to the July 5 local elections.
Regardless of blame, SLPP supporters are agitating for
Unity's resurrection, and accusations that the All People's
Congress (APC)-led government is deliberately sabotaging the
SLPP's efforts to conduct public outreach are already being
reported. However, a situation that could easily have boiled
over into unrest has remained a tempest in a teapot. Despite
initial warnings of possible violence and pointing fingers
from all sides, the creation of a formal entity to address
the situation has brought a measure of calm to the situation.
This possibly reflects consistent messages from members of
the international community that hot tempers in the
pre-election period, despite alleged provocation, must be
controlled for the good of the country. END COMMENT.
PERRY